Most people understand that smoking is harmful and can cause cancer. What fewer people know is that alcohol can do the same thing. Just like with cigarettes, there is no safe amount of alcohol when it comes to cancer risk.
Health experts from the American Institute for Cancer Research, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO) all agree that alcohol is a cancer-causing substance.
Even drinking less than one drink a day can increase the chance of getting certain cancers. Emma Veilleux, a senior dietitian at UCLA’s Simms/Mann Center for Integrative Oncology, says that alcohol is linked to at least seven different types of cancer.
The Simms/Mann Center offers support for people going through cancer, including nutrition advice, emotional support, and educational programs. Everything they offer is free for patients and their families, from diagnosis through recovery.
According to the WHO, the health risks from alcohol start with the very first sip. The more you drink, the more harmful it is—but drinking less is always better. One way people try to cut back is by taking part in Dry January, when they avoid alcohol during the first month of the year.
Veilleux says this can be a great way to better understand your relationship with alcohol and feel the health benefits of drinking less. Even reducing your alcohol intake—known as “damp January”—can help.
Veilleux points out that how much and how often you drink both matter. Small changes can still reduce your risk. Alcohol use is linked to a higher risk of liver, breast, mouth, throat, voice box, esophagus, and colon cancers.
It may also be connected to stomach, pancreatic, and prostate cancers. A global study in 2020 found that more than 740,000 new cancer cases each year are linked to alcohol.
Some people believe red wine is healthy because it contains resveratrol, a substance found in grapes that has antioxidant properties.
While some studies show that red wine might reduce oxidative stress for people with diabetes, Veilleux says there are better and safer ways to get resveratrol without the alcohol. The risks from the alcohol itself outweigh the small benefits from the antioxidants.
But how does alcohol cause cancer? When the body processes alcohol, it turns ethanol into a chemical called acetaldehyde, which can damage cells.
This substance is labeled as a likely cause of cancer by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Alcohol also creates stress in the body and can lead to damage in the DNA. When cells try to fix this damage, they sometimes make mistakes, which can lead to cancer.
Alcohol can also affect hormone levels, like estrogen, which may increase the risk of breast cancer. It can interfere with how the body gets rid of harmful chemicals or absorbs important nutrients like folate. This can make it easier for other cancer-causing substances, like tobacco smoke, to damage the body.
Participating in Dry January or simply drinking less can be the start of a longer journey to better health. Veilleux says it’s understandable that cutting back can be hard, especially since drinking is often seen as a normal part of celebrations or social life. But drinking less can improve sleep, give you more energy, and reduce inflammation.
It’s also important to remember that not everyone who drinks will get cancer. What matters most is what you do regularly, not the occasional drink. One glass of Champagne on New Year’s isn’t the problem—it’s the habits we build over time that matter most.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that a low-carb diet could increase overall cancer risk, and vitamin D supplements could strongly reduce cancer death.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about how drinking milk affects the risks of heart disease and cancer and results showing higher intake of dairy foods linked to higher prostate cancer risk.
Reducing alcohol use, even just a little, can help protect your health in the long run.
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